Jim and Della from the short story “The Gift of the Magi” by O. Henry are compared to the Magi because both couples make sacrifices out of love for one another. The Magi, also known as the Three Wise Men, were wise men who traveled from afar to give gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh as a sign of respect to Jesus when he was born.
Just as the Magi gave up their most treasured items, Jim and Della make similar sacrifices to give each other the most meaningful gifts possible. Although neither of them has much money, they give up their most prized possessions, Jim his watch and Della her hair, in order to purchase a gift fitting for their partner.
This ultimate expression of love and selflessness is a reminder that even when we have little, we can still give a lot if it is out of love. Ultimately, Jim and Della’s selfless acts of devotion are similar to those of the Magi, as both couples show that with love and dedication we can give more than expected.
What are the gifts of Della and Jim compared to those of the Magi?
The gifts given by Della and Jim in O. Henry’s short story, “The Gift of the Magi” are vastly different from those of the Magi, or “wise men,” found in the biblical story of the Nativity. Whereas the Three Kings brought expensive gifts for the baby Jesus — gold, frankincense, and myrrh — Della and Jim only had enough money to buy one meager gift apiece.
Without knowledge of each other’s intentions, they each went out and purchased a meaningful gift: a chain for Jim’s watch, and combs for Della’s long hair. And while their gifts were not expensive, like the Magi’s offerings, they still possessed tremendous sentimental value.
Jim sold his beloved watch to purchase the gift for Della, and Della cut her hair (her most prized possession) to buy the chain for Jim’s watch. So, while their gifts were not as grand or as costly as those of the Magi, Della and Jim’s presents for one another represent a far greater, more selfless expression of love.
What do the gifts of the Magi represent?
The gifts of the Magi, gifted by the Wise Men to the baby Jesus, are interpreted as symbols of Jesus’ divinity in the Christian tradition. The gold symbolizes Christ’s ruling power; Frankincense acknowledges him as deity; and Myrrh foreshadows his death.
Gold was considered to be a valuable item given to honor a king; frankincense is a sweet-smelling incense used during religious ceremonies; and Myrrh was used to anoint the dead.
The gifts of the Magi are an important part of the Nativity story and are often highlighted in traditional Christmas pageants and plays. People also often include the Magi in their gift-giving as an homage to their spiritual leaders of the ancient Christian world, who were willing to journey far to find their savior.
The symbolism found in the three wise men’s offerings to the new-born Jesus serves as an example of reverence toward Christ and the ultimate selflessness of true faith, even for unrelated strangers. Ultimately, the gifts of the Magi represent Jesus’ loving, merciful nature and serve to remind us that He is the King of Kings.
How would you describe Jim and Della’s relationship in The gift of the Magi?
Jim and Della’s relationship in The Gift of the Magi is characterized by love, devotion and sacrifice. They are deeply committed to one another, as evidenced by the lengths to which they are willing to go in order to express their love.
Despite having very little, they open their hearts to one another and find joy in the simple things in life that make them happy. Despite their dire financial circumstances, they place their love for one another above all other material possessions.
After selling their most cherished items to buy Christmas presents for one another, Jim and Della share a joyful moment of understanding, realizing that the real value of their gifts had nothing to do with their monetary cost.
Through the story of Jim and Della, O. Henry reminds us of the true spirit of the holidays—one of generosity and love.
What comparison does the narrator make between Jim and Della’s gifts and those of the Magi?
The narrator compares Jim and Della’s gifts to those of the biblical Magi, who traveled far to present gifts to the baby Jesus as an act of reverence. Despite their lack of resources and the fact that their gifts are “poor and exiguous,” the narrator suggests that their gifts are made with the same divine love the Magi brought.
The narrator suggests that the “secret of a true society” lies in their ability to make a similar offering of love, a sentiment which is timeless and not bound by monetary resources.
How does the writer compare the possession of Jim and Della and describe the gifts of them they brought for each other?
The writer compares the possessions of Jim and Della to illustrate the selfless devotion they have for each other, despite their lack of material wealth. Jim has a part-time job as a deck of cards, but it doesn’t pay enough for him to acquire the things he truly desires.
Della, who works as a hairdresser, does not fare much better. Despite this, both Jim and Della save their money for a special Christmas present for the other person.
Jim solemnly presents Della with a set of combs fashioned with tortoise shell and decorated “with exquisite flair. ” These combs cost Jim the entirety of his savings—an entire two weeks’ salary. Della, in turn, gives Jim a watch chain made of gold, crafted to fit his pocket watch in a special way that only a watchmaker who truly loved Jim could manage.
This gift cost Della her every last penny. Even though the watch chain is worn and second-hand, it is a treasured item from Jim, who refers to it as “brilliant and glittering in the gaslight. ” It is clear that, despite the fact that their possessions are meager, Jim and Della truly understand and care for each other deeply.
What is the moral of the story of Jim and Della?
The moral of the story of Jim and Della is that true love is more than just material possessions. They both sacrificed something that was very meaningful to them – Jim his watch, and Della her long, beautiful hair – in order to show their love and appreciation for one another.
Even though they could not afford to buy gifts for each other, their selfless acts of love and devotion were more powerful than any luxury item they could have bought. It further reminds us of the power of love and that it should not be taken for granted.
Through their actions, Jim and Della demonstrated that it is not the materialistic possessions that matter in a relationship, but the little, thought-out acts of kindness and self-sacrifice.
Why do you think o henry compares jim and della to the Magi at the end of the short story?
At the end of the short story, O. Henry makes a comparison between Jim and Della and the Magi from the Bible. The Magi, or wise men, were described as the first visitors to the baby Jesus, bringing the gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
This was seen as a sign of their devotion to the newborn King. By comparing Jim and Della to the Magi, O. Henry is illustrating how devoted the two were to each other, despite their financial limitations.
Just as the Magi went to extreme lengths to show their love and devotion, Jim and Della too make a grand gesture of sacrifice and devotion, selling their most prized possessions in order to give each other a Christmas gift.
His comparison is meant to show how their love is more important than material things and how their devotion and commitment to each other is something to be admired and celebrated. In the end, their actions demonstrate the true spirit of Christmas; that love conquers all.
What is a characteristic that Della and Jim have in common?
A characteristic that Della and Jim have in common is their selfless love for each other. Despite their limited financial resources, they are willing to sacrifice their most prized possessions in order to make the other person happy.
For example, Della sells her long, beautiful hair in order to purchase a special Christmas present for Jim, while Jim secretly sells his pocket watch in order to be able to give Della a set of combs she has been wanting for a long time.
Their unconditional love is what makes the story of “The Gift of the Magi” so heart-warming and inspiring.
How would the story be different if it were told from Jim’s perspective instead of Della’s?
If the story was told from Jim’s perspective instead of Della’s, the narrative would be completely different. For one, the audience would experience a wider world than the one Della experiences. It is likely that we would see Jim’s workplace, his home life and his perspective on gift-giving.
We would get to understand why Jim loves Della enough to spend a significant amount of his money on a present for her. With Della’s perspective, we only get to glimpse the affection from her side of the equation.
It is likely that we would also be offered a different take on their financial difficulties. Jim might explain his perspective on his obligations to Della and how he has managed to scrape together enough money to surprise Della with a special token of his love.
We would also get to witness the realization that both of them made upon seeing what the other had given up for the other. Jim’s take on this realization might be very different than Della’s.
The story might also be shifted so that we get to learn more about their relationship dynamics in a different way. We would be able to witness and empathize with Jim’s dilemma of not being able to give Della what she wanted and still to have enough money to pay the rent.
Overall, a story told from Jim’s perspective instead of Della’s, would paint a picture of a different relationship than the one we are used to seeing in the original. It would change the narrative, while still keeping its heartwarming conclusion.
How has the writer compared Della and Jim with the Magi?
The writer has compared Della and Jim from O. Henry’s “The Gift of the Magi” to the Magi in the biblical narrative through their similar levels of sacrifice and devotion. The three Magi traveled a great distance to bring frankincense, myrrh, and gold to the newborn baby Jesus, seeking to honor and show true love, whereas Della and Jim sacrifice their most valuable possessions in order to honor and demonstrate true love for each other.
The most obvious comparison between the Magi and Della and Jim is the fact that both are willing to give up what they cherish the most to give to the love of their lives. Just like the Magi brought their precious gifts to the baby Jesus, Della and Jim give up their most valuable possessions to give each other a Christmas gift.
Additionally, the idea of surprise also ties Della and Jim to the Magi. In the story, Della and Jim are both surprised when they find out what the other has sacrificed for Christmas. In a similar vein, the Magi were surprised when they found the baby in a manger rather than an actual crib, as they expected.
Furthermore, the idea of depleting one’s resources is a common element between the Magi and Della and Jim. Not only do Della and Jim find that their gifts for each other have used up all of their money, but the Magi also emptied their resources in terms of the gift of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
Lastly, the idea of devotion and selflessness that is expressed in the story of the Magi is similar to the type of devotion and selflessness shared by Della and Jim. In essence, through their similarities in sacrifice, surprise, depleting their resources, and selflessness, the writer has been able to effectively compare Della and Jim to the Magi.
Why did the narrator say that Jim and Della are wiser than the Magi?
The narrator said that Jim and Della were wiser than the Magi because they were able to recognize and appreciate the true value of real, lasting love. Their situation was a stark contrast to the traditional values of the Magi, who focused on the material and superficial, often traveling far and wide in search of expensive gifts.
Jim and Della ultimately realized what true happiness was, and gave in spite of their pathetic financial circumstances. Instead of seeking gold, frankincense, and myrrh, they sought out gifts from the heart that were meaningful, valuable and true.
Thus, their wisdom surpassed the Magi, and showed them that in the grand scheme of things, it is the simplest of practices that can bring the greatest joy.
How do Jim and Della feel at the end of the story?
At the end of the story, Jim and Della are full of emotions. They are both deeply moved by their sacrificial acts of love for one another. Della is in awe of the beautiful watch chain that Jim has purchased for her, despite its exorbitant cost.
She is in disbelief that such a thoughtful and costly gift could come from a man who had nothing to begin with. For his part, Jim is overwhelmed by the sight of the gorgeous comb that Della has sold her hair to provide him with.
He is full of admiration for her (and guilt for his own wasteful behavior). As they joyfully share their presents, it is clear that their sense of love and admiration for one another is stronger than ever.
Why does O’Henry call Jim and Della wise?
O’Henry calls Jim and Della wise because even though they both had limited financial resources, they were able to show great love to each other despite the circumstances. While Jim wanted to give Della a gift for Christmas, he had to sell his watch to buy her a set of combs she wanted.
Similarly, Della wanted to get the perfect present for Jim, and she cut off her long hair to sell in order to purchase a watch chain for him. This level of self-sacrifice and love is what makes O’Henry call them wise.
They were able to put each other above themselves and find joy in each other’s gifts, despite the fact that they had nothing. This embodied the true spirit of Christmas, which is why O’Henry considers them wise.
What is the ending of the story The Gift of Magi?
The ending of The Gift of Magi is a classic example of true love. Della and Jim are happily married and deeply in love, despite their lack of material resources. After Della cuts off her hair to be able to buy Jim a present, and Jim sells his watch to buy Della a set of combs for her hair, the two demonstrate their commitment to each other and their shared joy of giving and receiving gifts.
It is left up the reader to decide if their sacrifice was worth the outcome, but it is clear that both Della and Jim understand the true value of their gifts and are even wealthier in what they do have, each other.
Despite their great love, the two can only afford one luxurious item between them, with Della selling her hair, and Jim selling his watch, to allow them to buy each other simple, but thoughtful presents.
Despite this, they both seem content with what they were able to achieve, showing their great appreciation of each other and the gifts they were able to give. In this sense, the story is left with the two of them happy, demonstrating that true love goes beyond materialistic possessions, but rather resides in the depths of their souls.
